1. it creates a two tiered site where there are the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. i think this is inappropriate for a site like scratch which is all about equality, etc. adding a highly visible, platform wide marker that distinguishes donors from non-donors introduces a structural class division: those with decorations and those without. even if unintended, the distinction creates a hierarchy that conflicts with (my interpretation of) scratch’s core educational values
   
   
2. it feels very commercial, and reminds me of the nametag decorations in an online game called animal jam i used to play when i was a kid. if you paid for a subscription, you'd get your name highlighted. all it really showed was that that kids parents was in a financial position to spend money on an online game, but still i remember being extremely jealous and wanting it too, begging my parents to spend the $XX/month on online pixels.
   
   the decoration resembles these kinds of paid vanity cosmetics. it mirrors systems where paying users receive visual enhancements that elevate their status. i think that for children especially, these types of visual indicators imply that paying = being more important, more special, or more official. again, i feel like this kind of messaging is inconsistent with scratch's ethos and non-profit educational mission.
   
   
3. scratch is a site for kids. whether the scratch team thinks it or not, a feature like this contributes to the feeling of inadequacy (which i know many, if not all, kids feel are especially sensitive to when growing up). these kinds of status symbols will almost certainly lead to jealously, a sense of inferiority and undue pressure on caregivers (“please buy me this”). there will be a psychological impact.
   
   
4. it's overstepping what i think is a ‘donation’. the vanity profile decorations are the sort of things people pay money for (eg. see the popular indigo chatting app for gamers). sure all the current writing and messaging re memberships is framed about supporting a cause, but when this feature launches, i guarantee many kids will see it as a transactional thing (pay for membership = look cooler on scratch). again, this change makes scratch feel less like a community driven public resource and more like a freemium product people pay for parts of.
   
   maybe that is scratch's direction, but it's soooo disappointing. scratch has always felt like a free resource, something closer to a library or playground, and it's been one of the rare places online that has never felt like it was trying to sell me anything.
   
   growing up with scratch felt magical precisely because it wasn’t like the rest of the internet. it's free, open, generous, and welcoming. everyone stands on equal ground. this shaped the way i see the internet (and by extension the whole world): as a place where creativity is shared, everyone is welcome, and everyone is equal.
   

Jeffalo wrote:

for context: https://github.com/scratchfoundation/scratch-www/pull/9901

-snip-

Rosics wrote:

This is not what Scratch is meant to be though? We shouldn't do this as it locks main-site features behind a paywall which is not Scratch's goals.

Jeffalo wrote:

for context: https://github.com/scratchfoundation/scratch-www/pull/9901

scratch is adding a special decoration for users who are part of the ‘scratch membership’, alongside other things like paywalled cat blocks for members etc. these are publicly mentioned on the github but not yet announced.
~snip~

The Official List of Rejected Suggestions wrote:

8.2 Add a rank above Scratcher or allow users to skip the New Scratcher status
There are three ranks: New Scratcher, Scratcher, and Scratch Team. The only reason the New Scratcher rank exists is to prevent spam, and since it only takes a few weeks to become a Scratcher, bullying and separation are rather minimal. Similarly, the Scratch Team rank exists so users know who is on the Scratch Team; note that Scratch Team members do not brag about the Scratch Team rank. In contrast, there may be division in the community between Scratchers and those with a higher rank, which could also lead to bragging and bullying. This also includes a “verified Scratcher” status where well-known Scratchers get a special symbol next to their name; for more information in the case where a Scratcher is famous outside of Scratch, see this post.

In particular, this suggestion includes a “Former Scratch Team Member” rank as well as a “Youth Advisory Board” rank, as account ranks in general are intended to identify who has access to certain features. For more information, see this post.

Although the restrictions for New Scratchers may seem annoying, they are extremely effective against spam and inappropriate content. For New Scratchers who are wondering how to become a Scratcher or what it means to be one, check out this topic. The Scratch Team will not allow any accounts to “skip” the New Scratcher status, even if it is an alternate account of an existing account.

View source

2D4eter wrote:

This definitely feels more like a quick money grab then anything thought through. I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of red cross against scratch ears trend on scratch, projects with the leaked sprites, exclusive studios (scratch membership only), etc. appearing once this becomes mainstream knowledge. I saw that when the page is loading, before the javascript kicks in fully, you can see a ‘Membership’ button next to create, explore and ideas in the navigation bar, which really reinforces this.

Rosics wrote:

Can't someone also just download the image and slap it on their own avatar?

Rosics wrote:

Can't someone also just download the image and slap it on their own avatar?

Jeffalo wrote:

for context: https://github.com/scratchfoundation/scratch-www/pull/9901

scratch is adding a special decoration for users who are part of the ‘scratch membership’, alongside other things like paywalled cat blocks for members etc. these are publicly mentioned on the github but not yet announced.

based on what we can see, the avatar decoration appears everywhere a user can. this means it shows up in more places than the scratch team star* too.

i totally get the point of giving perks/wanting to provide value for people generous enough to donate to scratch, but i think this feature is out of place. i haven't been too active on here lately, but i feel strongly on this so here are some somewhat organized thoughts. this is coming from someone who's been on scratch for close to 11 years, been part of the community and been on the scratch team as an intern.

scratch does need funding to survive. i think the scratch membership is a good idea. i think the exclusive educational resources, sprite packs and resources are reasonable ways to reward donors. i do not think the membership perks should extend into the community site.

1. it creates a two tiered site where there are the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. i think this is inappropriate for a site like scratch which is all about equality, etc. adding a highly visible, platform wide marker that distinguishes donors from non-donors introduces a structural class division: those with decorations and those without. even if unintended, the distinction creates a hierarchy that conflicts with (my interpretation of) scratch’s core educational values
   
   
2. it feels very commercial, and reminds me of the nametag decorations in an online game called animal jam i used to play when i was a kid. if you paid for a subscription, you'd get your name highlighted. all it really showed was that that kids parents was in a financial position to spend money on an online game, but still i remember being extremely jealous and wanting it too, begging my parents to spend the $XX/month on online pixels.
   
   the decoration resembles these kinds of paid vanity cosmetics. it mirrors systems where paying users receive visual enhancements that elevate their status. i think that for children especially, these types of visual indicators imply that paying = being more important, more special, or more official. again, i feel like this kind of messaging is inconsistent with scratch's ethos and non-profit educational mission.
   
   
3. scratch is a site for kids. whether the scratch team thinks it or not, a feature like this contributes to the feeling of inadequacy (which i know many, if not all, kids feel are especially sensitive to when growing up). these kinds of status symbols will almost certainly lead to jealously, a sense of inferiority and undue pressure on caregivers (“please buy me this”). there will be a psychological impact.
   
   
4. it's overstepping what i think is a ‘donation’. the vanity profile decorations are the sort of things people pay money for (eg. see the popular indigo chatting app for gamers). sure all the current writing and messaging re memberships is framed about supporting a cause, but when this feature launches, i guarantee many kids will see it as a transactional thing (pay for membership = look cooler on scratch). again, this change makes scratch feel less like a community driven public resource and more like a freemium product people pay for parts of.
   
   maybe that is scratch's direction, but it's soooo disappointing. scratch has always felt like a free resource, something closer to a library or playground, and it's been one of the rare places online that has never felt like it was trying to sell me anything.
   
   growing up with scratch felt magical precisely because it wasn’t like the rest of the internet. it's free, open, generous, and welcoming. everyone stands on equal ground. this shaped the way i see the internet (and by extension the whole world): as a place where creativity is shared, everyone is welcome, and everyone is equal.
   

as someone who grew up with scratch, i know there's something special about this place.

it would be heartbreaking to lose that.

mingo-gag wrote:

I don't really care about the Memberships perks it's a good idea, but there needs to be something for me and other users to get it:

The Badge we don't know what it will look like but that's neat.

The Cat Blocks, yeah they are a neat edition but it isn't a Permanent option it's a MemberShip Option.

2D4eter wrote:

This definitely feels more like a quick money grab then anything thought through. I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of red cross against scratch ears trend on scratch, projects with the leaked sprites, exclusive studios (scratch membership only), etc. appearing once this becomes mainstream knowledge. I saw that when the page is loading, before the javascript kicks in fully, you can see a ‘Membership’ button next to create, explore and ideas in the navigation bar, which really reinforces this.

ajskateboarder wrote:

There's definitely a disconnect between current ST members and the (probably new, probably contractors) developers contributing on GitHub

medians wrote:

The Cat Blocks.. wait what do you mean? Are you serious?? Have they pay walled it now?? Or are you talking about something else?